00:30And the host of a prestigious boat show, I'm Laila Humayra and this is Qatar in Motion.
00:40Did you know that the earliest maps of Doha showed the old port as customs house landing?
00:46Starting operations in the 1930s, the old Doha port was the main gateway of trade for Qatar,
00:52a major lifeline in the country's economic growth.
00:55While the cargo port was retired in 2016, the rejuvenated old Doha port has the perfect recipe for a thriving cruise industry.
01:05In the 2024-2025 season, arrivals jumped 19% with more than 360,000 visitors.
01:13The port is also casting its net beyond Qatar shores to expand its clientele,
01:19participating at the Monaco Yacht Show and signing partnerships with marinas in the UAE and Turkey.
01:26Well, here we are at the second edition of the Qatar Boat Show at the old Doha port.
01:34As you can see, dozens of boats and yachts have docked with some sailing in as far as Europe.
01:39And it's events like these that showcase the port's commitment to navigate modernity,
01:44but staying anchored by tradition.
01:46The yachts have docked, anchors dropped, and the crowd is hooked.
01:51Some are here to enjoy the atmosphere and appreciate the beauty of yachting,
01:55while others are looking to splurge.
01:58Young and old, big spender, all casual enthusiasts, there's something for everyone.
02:05Riding on the success of the first edition of the Qatar Boat Show,
02:08I caught up with the old Doha port CEO, Muhammad Abdullah Al Mullah,
02:12to get his thoughts on the festivities.
02:16Firstly, thank you so much for having us here at the VIP lounge,
02:19at the Qatar Boat Show here at the old Doha port.
02:23The Qatar Boat Show, the second edition this year, it keeps getting bigger and bigger.
02:27What's your take personally on the growth that you've seen
02:31of the Qatar Boat Show since the first edition?
02:33Well, first of all, I would like in return to thank you really for being with us
02:37and supporting us throughout our journey,
02:40way before even starting the Qatar Boat Show first edition.
02:44So thank you very much.
02:46This edition, luckily, has been different, I would say, in a positive way
02:51in terms of the magnitude of the participation,
02:55whether it's local companies, regional or even international.
03:00Today in this edition, what makes it remarkable
03:03that around 505 trademarks showcased by 85 exhibitors from 25 countries.
03:13So this is in itself, I think it's a good and impressive achievement
03:18that we have accomplished during this edition,
03:22which will make, I mean, the show itself more of not only a local show,
03:29but it's more of an international and regional as well.
03:34And we're sitting here with the backdrop of these yachts lined up.
03:38What are some interesting highlights of the Qatar Boat Show this year
03:42that we've never seen before?
03:43One of them we have concentrated more in this edition
03:48to focus more on the spectator, I would say, the visitor experience,
03:54one of which is really having not only to focus more
03:58into people who really would like to see the sea-related activities
04:02or the people who are interested in buying boats or yachts,
04:06but more of a journey itself.
04:08So in this edition, we have accounted for different activities,
04:14F&B outlets, around 21 F&B outlets within the premises of the show,
04:21where we have collaborated with one of our local societies
04:25to come and have the kids do the traditional way of fishing
04:30within the show itself.
04:33What are some of the things that we should look out for
04:37in terms of, from now, the cruise season
04:39and the winter season for Old Harport?
04:41The cruise season will be starting right after the boat show.
04:45We really target our plans to focus more on the international visitors
04:51who are coming on a yearly basis through the cruise ships.
04:56So we try to make sure that they live a special experience.
05:01We have done a project lately within the MENA district,
05:06which includes, which is already having around 50 F&B outlets
05:11and 100 commercial retail,
05:15as well as the residential units and the boutique hotel.
05:19We have implemented and executed a project during the summer
05:23to cool out the outdoor areas
05:26and the main promenade in the MENA district
05:30to make sure that we have the most comfortable experience for our visitors.
05:37It's easy to see why the Qatar Boat Show is a crowd favourite.
05:42Visitors are able to get up close and personal
05:44with some very elegant and sleek yachts.
05:48It's quite a spectacle to behold,
05:50especially when you come face-to-face with this beauty.
05:53I'm aboard one of the biggest yachts brought in this year.
05:57This is Gulfcraft's showpiece, the Nomad 101.
06:01It's one of the newest models in the company's fleet,
06:04boasting a high-tech navigation system,
06:06the finest interior and four floors.
06:09It also comes with a price tag of almost $10 million.
06:14Still, it's expected to be snapped up this year.
06:17Here we have a lofty villa on the water with five staterooms
06:20and the owner's stateroom oversees the water.
06:23So it's on the main deck
06:25and offers you a beautiful 270-degree view of the water.
06:30And the idea is, even though this is a lavish vessel,
06:34the idea is to provide a home away from home.
06:36Putting a spotlight on luxury and design
06:38is one aspect of how the boat show
06:41is keeping up with the international yachting industry,
06:44but so is highlighting innovation and sustainability.
06:48Gulfcraft is continuing to invest in new technologies
06:51and examining the market for either products and materials
06:55that are responding to the ecological need
06:59that today exists with our clients
07:01and also looking to redesign our yachts
07:05to minimize the energy consumption.
07:08And that has additional benefits too
07:10because then you get a longer range,
07:12you get the benefit of staying on board
07:15for an extended period of time.
07:18The Qatar Boat Show also puts a spotlight
07:20on homegrown companies like Halul Boats,
07:23which has been operating in the country
07:25well before the arrival of giant cruises and fancy yachts.
07:29And while competition is inevitable as the country grows,
07:33Qatari firms that have been built on heritage and tradition
07:36feel they'll always have a grasp of local flair.
07:40My name is Ali Ahmed Al-Hatmi.
07:43I'm a chief operator at Halul Boats.
07:46We are a Qatari brand,
07:48one of the first, if not the first,
07:50brand in Qatar of manufacturing boats.
07:53So we are trusted.
07:56We have a contract with the Coast Guard
07:59and the Emirates.
08:00We provide them the boat
08:02and the specification that they want.
08:05Everything that needs fiberglass
08:07or use fiberglass or use fiberglass, we do.
08:10We have boat from 12 feet till 55 feet.
08:15We made a houseboat 60 feet.
08:17عملية شراء القارب
08:19تبتدي بقسم نبيعات
08:21يتم تحديد الحجم اللي أنت تبيه
08:24وهل أنت مثلاً
08:25هل أنت صياد
08:26ولا هل أنت بس ودك أنه مثلاً تطلع بحر.
08:31بعد ما يتم تحديد مواصفات القارب
08:34تبتدي مراحل تصنيع.
08:36الوالد كان ياب يتميز بقصتنا
08:39اللي هي الدبنيو
08:41فبدأ فيها مع المهندسين
08:43القصة ميزتنا بالثبات
08:45وعطتنا فرصة لنا نعرض الطراد
08:48والحمد لله توفقنا فيها
08:51ميزتنا عن باقي المصانع.
08:55الوالد هو اللي أسس الشركة
08:56من حوالي 21 سنة
08:58وكان ومازال يحب البحر
09:01وصناعة القارب.
09:02بعدين جاء أخوي عبدالله
09:04وساعده في توسيع الشغل أكثر
09:07وأنا جيت أتعلم منه
09:09علشان أقدر أكمل المشوار
09:12أحس ببخري منه أشوف طريدنا في البحر
09:15وأحس ببخري منه أشوف طريدنا
09:17تنشحن خارج البلاد.
09:19هاي معنات ثمنا تكسبنا ثقة الزبون.
09:22معنى الغطر القوارب
09:24مهم لعرض أحدث طريد السنة
09:28ليش تقبال زبوين خارج البلاد
09:30مثل كويت والمارات والبحرين والسعودية
09:34وهي فرصة والأمانة معرض
09:37سنة عن سنة قام يتطور
09:39وإن شاء الله يكون هالسنة
09:42سنة خير علينا.
09:45So as the maritime industry continues to evolve
09:49so will the Qatar Boat Show
09:51benefiting from the ripple effects of the growth
09:53of the old Doha port from its humble beginnings
09:56to the cultural and touristic hub it has become today.
10:00Part of that growth includes going global.
10:03The Qatari market has caught the eye of many international superyacht makers
10:08who see great potential for expanding their clientele here.
10:12Among them is the Italian luxury boat builder Benetti.
10:16We take the opportunity to announce new models
10:20first of which is the Oasis 42
10:23and then we have the B-Now 52
10:26and last but not least we have the B-Loft 58
10:30Qatar has always been strategic to us
10:32but then again it is a part of a more integrated market
10:37the GCC
10:39extremely strategic for us
10:41and we are fully committed
10:43to contributing with the beautiful boats
10:45but also to contributing to the ecosystem
10:48and creating out of this area
10:50a hub for yachting business.
10:53The clients in this region are very sophisticated
10:56and they are very demanding
10:57and of course there is a cultural aspect
10:59to the brief that they present
11:01that we listen very actively
11:03and we very actively present solutions
11:06such as layouts that accommodate their need
11:10their family need
11:11and we are very proud to have succeeded.
11:14The DNA of Benetti is absolutely excellence.
11:18We bring forward the layouts and design
11:21that are out of the ordinary
11:23but we also work on the technologies
11:25and we have to make our yachts
11:27actually adequate
11:29technologically speaking
11:30because the persona of our new clients
11:32are very savvy, tech savvy
11:34and they are now younger generations
11:36and we definitely have to satisfy that side.
11:46Well we hope you've enjoyed this lap of luxury
11:48around the Qatar boat show
11:49at the old Doha port
11:51but that's all the time we have for now.
11:52Thanks for watching Qatar In Motion
11:54and see you next time.
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